Easter is a time for family gatherings, egg hunts, and cherished traditions. But for families navigating divorce, the holiday season can bring additional complexities, particularly regarding parenting time. If you're a Colorado resident facing this situation, Johnson Law Group's experienced family law attorneys can guide you through the process and ensure a smooth Easter celebration for you and your children.
Understanding Parenting Time Agreements 
Colorado courts prioritize the child's best interests when determining parenting time arrangements. The factors the court considers include:
- The child's physical and emotional needs.
- Relationship with each parent.
- The stability of each parent's home environment.
- The ability of each parent to provide for the child's needs.
These arrangements, often outlined in a parenting plan or court order, detail how much time each parent spends with the children during regular weeks, weekends, holidays, and school breaks.
Common Easter Parenting Time Considerations:
- Rotating Holidays: A common approach involves alternating Easter celebrations between parents year by year. This ensures parents get quality time with their children during this memorable holiday. Find sample holiday parenting plans here (pages 43-44)
- Sharing Easter Day: Some parents may choose to split Easter Day. Perhaps with one parent hosting the morning festivities and the other hosting the afternoon or evening.
- Travel Considerations: If one parent plans to travel with the children during Easter weekend, the parenting plan should address how travel time factors into the overall parenting time allocation.
- Special Traditions: Parenting plans can also incorporate specific Easter traditions the children hold dear, ensuring they are celebrated with both parents.
- Gift-Giving Communication: Discuss gift-giving expectations with your co-parent. Will you exchange gifts with the children beforehand or coordinate on a single larger present? Clear communication prevents duplicate gifts and ensures a balanced approach.
Easter Traditions and Activities:
- Maintaining Easter Traditions: If cherished traditions involve a lengthy activity, like baking cookies or decorating Easter baskets, split the tasks between households. One parent can bake the cookies, and the other can decorate the baskets with the children.
- Virtual Easter Celebrations: If parenting time falls on different days, organize an activity virtually, such as an Easter egg hunt! Hide brightly colored objects around your house beforehand and have the children "hunt" for them via video call. Another option is to video chat while making Easter crafts together, or read the same Easter story simultaneously over a video call.
- Creating New Easter Traditions: Let's be honest, sometimes old traditions can feel a little bittersweet after a divorce. It's okay if revisiting certain activities brings up sad emotions for the kids. Instead, why not hop on a brand-new adventure together? Try volunteering, an Easter movie marathon, or another fun activity to create fresh Easter memories that are all your own!
Unforeseen Circumstances
Life doesn't always follow a perfect schedule. If unforeseen circumstances arise that impact your Easter parenting time arrangements, open communication and flexibility between co-parents are crucial. However, if communication breaks down, Johnson Law Group's attorneys can help you navigate these situations, enforce existing parenting time orders, and if needed, help with modifications.
The Modification Process
Modifying a parenting time agreement can be done through an agreement with your co-parent or by filing a motion with the court.
- Agreement: If you and your co-parent agree on a parenting time modification, you can submit a written agreement to the court for approval. This is often the quickest and most cost-effective option.
- Court Motion: If you cannot reach an agreement, you can file a motion with the court requesting a modification. This process typically involves discovery (exchanging information), potential mediation, and potentially a court hearing where a judge will decide on the modification.
How Johnson Law Group Can Help with Your Easter Parenting Time Concerns
Easter, like any holiday, can present unique challenges for divorced parents. Here's how Johnson Law Group's family law attorneys can be your trusted partner:
- Reviewing and Modifying Existing Parenting Plans: If your current parenting plan doesn't address Easter specifically, or if your circumstances have changed, our attorneys can assist in reviewing and potentially modifying the plan to ensure a fair and appropriate Easter arrangement for your children.
- Creating a New Parenting Plan: If you haven't established a formal parenting plan, our attorneys will work with you to craft a comprehensive plan that outlines Easter parenting time and other important considerations.
- Mediation and Negotiation: We believe in resolving parenting time disputes through collaborative solutions whenever possible. Our attorneys can facilitate mediation sessions to help you and your co-parent reach a mutually agreeable Easter parenting time arrangement.
- Court Advocacy: In situations where mediation is unsuccessful, Johnson Law Group will represent you in court and advocate for your child's best interests parenting time.
Additional Resources for Colorado Parents
Beyond Easter: Long-Term Solutions
While Easter is a current concern, Johnson Law Group understands the importance of long-term solutions regarding parenting time during holidays and special occasions. We can help you establish a clear and workable parenting plan that accommodates future holidays, birthdays, and other important events.
The Johnson Law Group Difference
We understand the emotional complexities of navigating holidays during divorce. Our compassionate and experienced family law attorneys are dedicated to protecting your children's best interests and ensuring a smooth Easter celebration for your family. We will work relentlessly to achieve a fair, respectful outcome and minimize conflict.
Contact Johnson Law Group Today
Don't let Easter parenting time concerns add stress to your already challenging situation. With Johnson Law Group, you can entrust all your eggs to one basket, and rest assured that we'll strive to achieve the best possible outcome for your case. Contact us today at 720-445-4444 or schedule a FREE consultation online to get started. We are here to guide you through this process and ensure a happy and memorable Easter for your family.
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